Chinese authorities have agreed to release 11 of 20 tourists who were arrested on Friday last week at the Ordos Airport, Inner Mongolia for allegedly watching terrorist propaganda videos. The remaining nine people in custody are set to be officially charged, according to South African charity Gift of the Giver.

Like Us on Facebook

Out of the 11 tourists set to be released between Wednesday and Thursday by Chinese authorities, six are British nationals and five are South Africans. The remaining tourists in custody include four British nationals, five South Africans and an Indian national.

The tourists, who were on a 47-day tour of China, are alleged to have watched terrorist propaganda videos in their hotel room. At least one member of the group is accused of having links to a terrorist group.

Chinese authorities reportedly seized the tourists' phones. They are said to have been held incommunicado for about 48 hours before a tour operator noticed their disappearance on Sunday and travelled to Ordos to make enquiries.

The release of 11 of the tourists was agreed on after a meeting between officials from South Africa, Britain and China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. The Chinese government has not revealed details of the charges against the tourists. An official told South China Morning Post that a statement would be issued over the next few days. Analysts say the case is presumably still under investigation.

Chinese authorities have been on high alert for terrorist activities online following a 2014 attack at the Kunming Railway Station in Yunan Province that left at least at least 29 people dead. Officials later expressed concerns that loopholes in the nation's internet surveillance system may have enabled the terrorists plot for their attack unnoticed. Authorities have since tightened internet surveillance and censorship. The government has also drafted a national security law which gives authorities the right to request sensitive information from companies during investigations into terrorist activities.

According to iOL News, three of the South Africans being held by the Chinese government are relatives of the CEO of Vodacom, Shameel Joosub. Joosub is reported to have been in contact with the South African Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is currently in China for an official visit, about the prospects of securing the release of the tourists.

Meanwhile, Gift of the Giver has also urged Ramaphosa to intervene and secure the release of the group.

TagsTourists Arrested in China, Tourists Arrested in Ordos Inner Mongolia, Gift of the Giver, China Internet Surveillance